Finding aid to the Southern California Women for Understanding records, 1975-1998
Coll2011.076
Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by generous grants from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
and Wells Fargo.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
(c) 2012
Title: Southern California Women for Understanding Records
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2011.076
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.8 linear feet.
1 archive box + 2 archive cartons.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1980-1995
Date (inclusive): 1975-1998
Abstract: Survey records, meeting minutes, newsletter editorial material, photographs, negatives, correspondence, financial records,
event programs, press releases, manuscripts, promotional material, and other material documenting the activities of Southern
California Women for Understanding (SCWU), 1975-1998. Founded in 1976, SCWU was an organization of women "dedicated to creating
an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian issues within both the homosexual and heterosexual communities." Notably, this collection
includes numerous photographs and textual content used in the publication of the SCWU newsletter, as well as a 1988 survey
of 1000 lesbian women.
creator:
Southern California Women for Understanding.
Administrative History
Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU) was founded in 1976 to create "an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian
issues within both the homosexual and heterosexual communities." Betty Berzon, a lesbian board member of the predominantly
male Whitman-Radclyffe Foundation, took hold of the idea to form an all woman support group in Southern California. Twenty
women attended the first meeting in a private home, and ten decided to start a women's group.
At the first meeting of what was to become SCWU, Myra Riddell was elected chair, and the name "Southern California Women for
Whitman-Radclyffe" was adopted. However by July 1977, the group decided to break with Whitman-Radclyffe and form an independent
organization of women. SCWU incorporated in August 1978, and the organization began forming chapters a year later. In 1979,
SCWU held its first Lesbian Rights Award, and Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were the first honorees. By 1980, the number of
members exceeded 500, and an office was opened with a fulltime staff person. In 1984, SCWU established the L. Diane Anderson
Trust to support education and research on lesbian issues. Support of community organizations also expanded with the sponsorship
of Connexxus Women's Center/Centro de Mujeres.
Described in 1982 as one of the largest lesbian support organizations in the country, SCWU at its peak had over 1100 members
who were predominantly professional, educated women. By the late-1980s, the group was experiencing internal conflicts and
its membership began to dwindle.
Source:
[Box 1, Folder 4] Southern California Women for Understanding Records, Coll2011-076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Acquisition Information
The 1988 lesbian survey results were donated by Bunny MacCulloch to the International Gay & Lesbian Archives on September
19, 1982. The donor and date of acquisition for the remaining materials is unknown.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Southern California Women for Understanding Records, Coll2011-076, ONE National Gay & Lesbian
Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Processing Information
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, December 2012.
Scope and Content
This collection includes administrative records, promotional material, Lesbian Rights Award event records, newsletter editorial
records, and survey records from Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU), 1975-1998, an organization "dedicated
to creating an atmosphere of understanding of Lesbian issues." The General Administration Series includes minutes, correspondence,
promotional material, manuscripts, and a 1988 survey of 1000 lesbian women conducted by the SCWU research committee. The Newsletter
Editorial Material and Photographs Series comprises photographs, editorial copy, clippings, newsletters and other material
used in the publication of the SCWU newsletter, including numerous annotated photographs of SCWU members and events.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. General administration
Series 2. Newsletter editorial material and photographs
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Berzon, Betty
MacCulloch, Bunny
Strik, Margo
Lesbian activists--United States
Lesbian feminism
Lesbian rights
Lesbians--California--History
Lesbians--Services for
Women's rights
General administration Series 1.
1975-1998
Physical Description:
0.8 linear foot.
Series Description
This series comprises survey records, manuscripts, correspondence, programs, promotional material, press releases, notes,
and other material documenting the activities of Southern California Women for Understanding, 1975-1998. Notably, this series
includes a 1988 survey of 1000 lesbian women conducted by the research committee of SCWU. The final report for this survey
was written by Judith M. Saunders, Judith D. Tupac, and Bunny MacCulloch.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Beach Cities chapter records
1985-1987
Box 1, Folder 3
Lesbian Rights Award Dinner
1979-1994
Box 1, Folder 4
Lesbian Rights Award Dinner programs
1981-1988
Box 1, Folder 5
"Lesbian Safer Sex" pamphlet
1993
Box 2, Folder 1-7
Lesbian survey
1981-1988
Physical Description:
[7 folders]
Box 1, Folder 7-8
Publicity flyers, mailers, and brochures
1975-1998
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 9
Skits from "Welcome to Our World, A Lesbian Odyssey"
1985
Newsletter editorial material and photographs Series 2.
1978-1996
Physical Description:
1.0 linear foot.
Series Description
This series comprises photographs, negatives, slides, editorial copy, correspondence, notes, newsletters, financial records,
illustrations, clippings, schedules and other material used in the administration and production of the SCWU newsletter, circa
1978-1996. Included are numerous annotated photographs of SCWU members and events. The bulk of material in this series was
primarily created or collected by SCWU chair, Margo Strik.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 3, Folder 1-2
Administration
1985-1990
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 3
Board of Directors correspondence
1988-1990
Box 3, Folder 4
Editor bids for desktop publishing
1989-1991
Box 3, Folder 5-8
Copy and resource information
1994-1996
Physical Description:
[4 folders]
Box 3, Folder 10
Name the newsletter contest
1988-1989
Box 3, Folder 11-24
Newsletters with annotated photographs
1978-1995
Physical Description:
[14 folders]
Scope and Contents note
These folders include photographs of Joyce Gonzalez, Sharon Tobin, Sheila Rosecrans, Myra Riddell, Ivy Bottini, Jan Stone,
Holly Near, Judi Doyle, Susan McGrievy, Randi Hoffman, Roberta Bennett, Diane Abbitt, Jean Conger, Dina Bachelor, Lauren Jardine,
Eloise Klein Healy, Dusty Pruitt, Cris Williamson, Loretta Coller, and several other SCWU members and board members. Photographs
also include images taken at many events such as the International Women's Festival, gay and lesbian pride parades, fundraising
events, and the Lesbian Rights Awards Dinners.
Box 3, Folder 25-32
Photographs, negatives and slides
circa 1985-1995
Physical Description:
[7 folders]
Scope and Contents note
These folders include photographs of Bunny MacCulloch, Judi Doyle, Dianne Anderson, Margie Mullen, Phyllis Hanniver, Robin
Tyler, Myra Riddell and several other SCWU members and board members. Photographs also include images taken at many events
such as SCWU meetings, gay and lesbian pride parades, fundraising events, and the Lesbian Rights Awards Dinners.
